Child&#39;s teeter board



Mav 17, 1932. HETHERINGTQN 1,858,892

CHILDS TEETER BOARD Filed'June 17-, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 17, 1932- E. HETHERINGTON CHILDS TEETER BOARD Filed June 17. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 17, 1932 ED'WIN rrnrrrnnin'erolv, or sense RAPIDS, IOWA CHILD S TEETER BOARD Application filed June 17, 1929. Serial No. 371,487.

. This invention relates to a type of teeter- 7' board for a single child, such as is set forth in the patent to Leo L. Henry and Edwin Hetherington, No, 1,640,150, bearing date the 23d of August, 1927.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction ofteeter-boards having the general characteristics of that above designated. The several improvements will fully appear in the description and claims following, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a teeter-board embodying the new improvements. Fig. 2 is a central, longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same. i is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view showing the manner of connecting the handle with its supporting bracket. Fig. 6 shows sectional details of the front end connections of the tubular base. Fig. 7 similarly shows details of the manner of connecting the bridge with the base.

In its general characteristics the teeterboard herein set forth conforms substantially to that shown in the patent above referred to.- The main elements of the device .are a tubular base 5 bent from a single piece and joined at the front end; an upstanding bridge 6 connecting with the base, and forming a pivotal support for the oscillating board 7 counteractive springs 8 connecting the front end of the board with the front end of the base; a seat 9 and a handle 10 to be grasped by the child while teetering. Improvements in the construction of certain of these elements, together with other novel features will be described hereafter in detail.

An improvement in the form of the base is best shown in Fig. 3. The wide, rear end of the base is formed with serpentine curves 5a and 5b. The former project some little distance back of the seat and thus minimize any tendency of the base to tip up in front as the seat is rocked backwardly by the occupant. The incurve 5b coincides with the dip of the seat in this teetering movement, as shown in Fig. 2, and serves as an arresting abutment or bumper for the seat in suchextreme movement.

' ends of the tube.

An improved connection for the ends of the base-tube is shown in Figs. 2 and 6. It consists of a double-ended dowel 11 with an enlarged central shoulder 11a, and connecting rivets 12 to fasten the dowel to the adjacent The middle of the dowel is pierced by a hole 116, and this receives the tenon 13a of a brace-rod 13 extending from this front end of the base to the upper crossmember of the bridge above referred to. This riveted connection of the parts is simple, strong and durable.

In the case of the base as set forth in the patent above referred to, there was a tendency to creep along the floor under the action of vigorous rocking. This is objectionable in itself, and also as tending to mark or mar the floor. 'To prevent such action I provide both ends of the base with non-slipping and cushioning material, preferably sections of rubber tubinglt and 15, respectively, slipped over and fitting closely about the tubing of the base. At the middle of the rear section the under side of the protective cushion is cut away at 14a, so that the flanking curves of the base, together with the single curve at the front end, form a three-point bearing for the base, to maintain it always in a stable position. It will be evident that the overlying rubber at the middle curve makes a cushioning bumper for the seat as rocked to the position shown inFig. 2.

An improved connection of the bridge with the base is'shown in Fig. 7. The duplicate ends of the bridge uprights, of which one is shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

Above the bridge the upper side of the .board is provided with a. bracket 16, with a flaring base 16a to give it a broader support,

and this bracket carries the handle-barlO.

The connection of the handle-bar with the bracket is shown in Fig. 5. The enlarged middle part of the bar fits in a corresponding hole in the bracket. To the sides of the bracket are riveted cheek-plates 18, flared to fit the bracket, and terminating at the bottom in outwardly extending flanges 18a. The upper ends of the cheek-plates are bored to the smaller diameters of the handle-bar, and when set in the positions shown in 5 bear against the ends of the middle enlargement of the bar, and hold it rigidly in position when the cheek-plates are secured to the bracket by rivets 19. The diverging flanges at the lower ends of the cheek-plates coincide with the flanges of bearing-plates 20 in which the cross-member of the bridge is journaled, and all the parts are securely connected with the board by rivets 21.

An upstanding cleat 22 serves as a bearing for a cross-rod 23 to which the counter-balance springs are connected. This cleat, as improved, is best shown in Fig. 2. The main support for the cross-rod is formed of sheet metal, with a bearing for the rod at 22a and flaring sides terminating at the bottom in out-turned flanges 227) for fastening to the board by rivets 24. The interspace is fllled and the cleat strengthened by an inserted triangular block 25.

A foot-rest 26 is herein shown attached to the sides of the bridge. In practice the footrest should be adjustable, according to the varying lengths of childrens legs using the teeter. The foot-rest is shown as composed of a pair of tubes, flattened at 26a, and pierced with diagonal holes whereby it is mounted slidably on the inclined sides of the bridge. The inner ends of the foot-rest members are connected by a double-ended, right-and-left screw 2'? provided with a cen tral milled knob 27a. By the turning of the screw the foot-rest may be lengthened or shortened as desired, and thereby raised or lowered on the bridge, for shorter or longer le s respectively.

Hhving thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a teeter-board, the combination of a base formed of tubular material with a serpentine rear end, a supporting bridge attached to the base, and a board pivotally mounted thereon, the incurve of the base serving as an abutment against the downthrust of the board, and the outcurves serving to stabilize the base against tipping.

2. In a teeter-board, the combination of a base formed of tubular material bent in serpentine form at the rear end, a supporting bridge attached to the base, a tilting board mounted on the bridge, and an elastic sheathing for said serpentine part of the base, to form a yieldable bumper and prevent slippage on the floor.

3. In combination with a tiltable board and a supporting bridge therefor, a base for the bridge formed of tubular material bent to substantially triangular form, with round corners, the wider end being serpentine, cushioning material applied to the ends of the base, with the midportion of said cushioning material spaced away from the plane on which the base may rest, whereby said base is given a cushioned, three-point support.

4. In ateeter-boa-rd, the combination of a base formed of bent tubular material, a bridge rising from said base, a board carried tiltably by the bridge, a forwardly extending brace from the bridge to the base, the connection for the front ends of the base tube being a dowel, to the middle of which the brace is riveted, the dowel being secured to the ends of the base tube.

5. In a teeter-board having a tubular, bent base, and a board-supporting bridge, means for rigidly connecting the bridge with the base, which consists in hooks formed at the ends of the bridge legs and insertable through holes on the top of the base, the hooks forming a locking connection with the base when turned at right angles there to, and a diagonal brace connecting the bridge and base to hold the bridge in said right-angled position.

6. In a teeter-board, the combiantion of a base, a bridge rising therefrom, a board mounted tiltably thereon, with a child-carrying seat at one end, a handle-bar bracket disposed forwardly of said seat, and a handlebar secured to said bracket, the bracket being attached to the board by cheek-plates which at their upper ends receive in suitable holes the outwardly extending handles, and inwardly clamp an enlarged mid-portion of the handle-bar set in a corresponding hole in the bracket.

7. In a teeter-board, the combination of a base, a bridge arising therefrom, a board resting thereon, bearings connecting the board and bridge pivotally, a superimposed bracket carrying a handle-bar, cheek-plates attached to the sides of the bracket and having outturned bottom flanges, and means connecting said flanges with said bearings through said board.

8. In a teeter-board, the combination of a base, a bridge arising therefrom and having inclined sides, a childs seated board carried tiltably by the bridge, an endwise adjustable foot-rest mounted movably up and down on the inclined sides of the bridge, and means adapted to extend and contract said foot-rest and thereby secure it to the bridge sides at any desired elevation.

9. In a toy of the nature described, the combination of a base, a bridge rising therefrom, and an elongated supporting member suitably mounted on said bridge, a childcarrying seat at one end of said supporting member, a handle-bar bracket disposed for- 'Wardly on said seat, and a handle-bar, normally fixedly secured to said bracket but normally removable therefrom When desired, the means rendering same removable comprising an enlargement on the handle-bar fitting in an opening in the bracket, and means attachable to and detachable from the bracket, said last mentioned means engaging opposite sides of said enlargement and preventing same from moving out of the bracket.

10. In a toy of the character indicated, the combination of a base, a bridge rising therefrom and having inclined sides, a supporting seat for a child suitably carried by the bridge, an end-Wise adjustable foot-rest mounted movably up and down on the inclined sides of the bridge and including a pair of sections movable longitudinally with respect to each other, and means securing the sections together and capable of releasing them for relative movement whereby to secure the footrest to the bridge sides at any desired elevation.

11. In a teeter-board, the combination of a base, a bridge rising therefrom, a board carried by said bridge and tiltable thereon, a seat on said board, a sectional foot-rest carried by said bridge, the sections of said foot rest being capable of vertical adjustment and relative longitudinal adjustment, and means for securing said sections in any position of adjustment.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

EDWIN HETHERINGTON. 

